Sherlock Holmes and The Other Woman Read Online Free

risk, particularly with that lamppost no more than ten feet from the front door.”
    â€œWhich means...” he thought a moment then said, “It’s probably someone inside the house who is up to mischief. Unless,” he added, grinning, “It is actually an evil spirit.”
    I ignored his attempt to tease.
    â€œPossibly. I mean your first supposition, of course. Or perhaps the culprit has found another means of entrance. At this point, I am less interested in how than in why... Well, we shall not learn anything by standing in the cold discussing the matter. Let us see what the good woman can tell us.”
    The door opened almost the instant we knocked by a burly, middle-aged woman with brassy red hair. The apron and the size of her biceps identified her as one of the labouring classes.
    â€œMr Holmes and Doctor Watson?” she said. “Come in. The mistress is expecting you.”
    The house was immaculate and well ordered. From somewhere at the rear I could hear a young girl reciting German verbs. Her accent was excellent. Presumably young Miss Prentiss inherited her mother’s linguistic skills.
    The housekeeper led us into a small study. The mistress, a slender young woman with her father’s bright eyes and genteel air, greeted us warmly.
    â€œSome coffee for our guests, please, Agnes,” she said. The housekeeper bustled away and left us alone with our new client.
    â€œThank you so much for coming to see me, Mr Holmes,” the woman said when we were settled by the fire with our hot drinks in our hands. “My father holds you and your brother in the very highest esteem. Indeed, there can hardly be a person in this whole land who has not heard of your extraordinary accomplishments.”
    â€œThank you,” I said. “I am sorry you have need of help, but I will serve you to the best of my ability. Perhaps you would be kind enough to review the events in as much detail as you can recall. It is important you be as specific as possible. You may speak freely before my friend and colleague, Doctor Watson.”
    â€œI can be perfectly precise, Mr Holmes. I prepared a record of the events as they occurred. I had them noted in my diary, you see, and it was a simple matter to track back.”
    â€œExcellent,” I said taking the book. “I wish all my clients were so exacting. You are a credit to your father, Mrs Prentiss.”
    I read the items carefully.
    â€œNow,” I said.”I see the first instance of the scratching sound came at the very end of January, on Monday the thirty-first, in fact. You are quite certain there had been no such noises prior to that date?”
    â€œIt is possible,” said she, “that there had been some noise that I did not hear. I think it unlikely, however.”
    â€œAnd why is that?”
    â€œBecause I stay up very late working on my translations. It is difficult to concentrate when the children are up. They are good children but boisterous, as you can expect from that age. If there had been noises at night prior to the date I noted, I think I would have heard them. Of course, I cannot be certain. My husband was home for a few days at the end of January and I do not stay up late when he is here.”
    â€œI understand.” I reviewed her list of dates and events again. “I see there was a week-long break in the middle of February. There were no disturbances at all during that period?”
    â€œNone.”
    â€œCan you recall what else had been happening in your household at that time?”
    â€œVery clearly. My husband was ill and had to take a week off work.”
    â€œAh,” Watson said, leaning forward. “And can you remember if the noises and so forth ever occurred while your husband was home?”
    â€œThey did not.”
    â€œYou are certain?” I said.
    â€œPositive. I have spoken to him about these matters and I may say received a little gentle teasing from him on